Biomedical subjects

G K Stillwell

Publications and source records attributed to G K Stillwell.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1983

Whence our academy?

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History, 20th Century↗

PubMed1981

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome of the upper extremity: analysis of total outcome of management of 125 cases.

Case histories of 125 patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome of the upper extremity seen from July 1973 to March 1976 were reviewed. There was a 2.9:1 female preponderance. Twenty-four patients had documented litigation pending; however, it did not alter the final outcome significantly. On medical records, progress was noted for 86 patients with 16% having excellent results, 35% good, 26% satisfactory, 6% fair and 17% poor (all subjective evaluations by treating physicians). Median duration of follow-up prior to this study was approximately 2.5 months. Median duration between last clinic visit and follow-up study was 14.5 months. Follow-up letters sent to 123 patients who were believed to be alive showed that 4 patients had died; 77 (63%) replied. The majority of patients (53/77) reported that they still had pain in the shoulder/or hand, but 68% were taking no medications and only 15.3% (12) were taking narcotics. Twenty-eight patients (36%) claimed they were continuing physical therapy at home. Twenty-four (31%) retired or did not go back to the same work. Thirty-five percent were officially disabled, 30% were back at their same jobs and 29/59 female patients (49%) were able to do all the housework. Eighteen patients (23%) were able to return to 100% daily activity, 23 patients (30%) to 75% activity. Eleven patients (14%) had modified their activities considerably and were not able to do well.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1977

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation: a double-blind trial of its efficacy for pain.

A double-blind trial was done using a stimulator and a placebo device on patients who had chronic pain to determine the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical stimulation in controlling pain. Ninety-three patients were studied, and 83 of these completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Thirty-three patients had low-back pain and 24 had neuropathies. The stimulator was more effective than the placebo during treatment when used over the center of pain (P less than .005) or over an unrelated nerve trunk (P less than .01) and after treatment over the center of pain (P less than .05). The stimulator was significantly more effective than the placebo in neuropathies when stimulating over the related nerve trunk (P less than .005), where the stimulator response was nearly three times better than that of the placebo. The duration of subsequent relief was not significantly different after treatment with the stimulator or with the placebo device. Follow-up showed significant declines in the use and effect of the stimulator with the greatest decline noted by the depressed group.

Adult↗

PubMed1977

Tension myalgia of the pelvic floor.

The clinical picture in and efficacy of physical treatment for pelvic floor myalgia were reviewed. The medical records of patients having a diagnosis of pyriformis syndrome, coccygodynia, levator ani spasm syndrome, proctalgia fugax, or rectal pain who had been seen at the Mayo Clinic and treated in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation from 1970 through 1975 were retrieved. Adequate information and follow-up were available for 94 patients. Seventy-eight patients were women and 16 were men, whose ages ranged from 26 to 72 years. All patients had tenderness of the pelvic floor muscles on rectal examination. The most common associated findings were poor posture, deconditioned abdominal muscles, and generalized muscle attachment tenderness. The most effective therapeutic regimen was a combination of rectal diathermy, Thiele's massage, and relaxation exercises. Of the 94 patients, 30 had complete resolution of their symptoms, 19 had marked improvement, 17 had moderate improvement, and 14 had mild improvement. Only 14 patients had no change and 1 patient was worse after treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed1976

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation for chronic pain relief. A pilot study.

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Adult↗

PubMed1975

Palpation thyroiditis (multifocal granulomatour folliculitis).

Disseminated inflammatory lesions constituting a multifocal granulomatous folliculitis in the thyroid are described. These lesions were present in the majority (greater than 83%) of thyroids removed surgically because of thyroid or nonthyroid (carcinoma of the larynx) disease. They also were found at autopsy in patients who died while hospitalized but not in those who died at home. An identical lesion was produced experimentally in dogs by vigorously squeezing their thyroids. The human folliculitis is believed to result from traumatic injury or rupture of isolated thyroid follicles caused by palpation of the gland (palpation thyroiditis). Palpation thyroiditis may have little, if any, clinical importance. The remote possibility that it might be associated with iatrogenically produced metastasis of thyroid carcinoma is being investigated.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1975

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation for treatment of chronic pain: a preliminary report.

Two hundred thirty patients received transcutaneous electrical stimulation for intractable pain. Although almost 60% of the patients noted some degree of pain relief, slightly less than half (43%) of those tested decided to purchase a stimulator. About 20% of those who bought stimulators did not continue to obtain pain relief from transcutaneous electrical stimulation during the two to six month follow-up period. Many others noted a decrease in the amount of pain relief they obtained.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1973